Keepin' it real fake, part XL: iMobile plays both sides

Okay, you have to admit, this is one of the better iPhone fakes. We could definitely see Apple whipping up a rounded metal, Nano-esque candybar with an expansive display, iPod dock connector, square camera lens, and Windows key... er, Windows key? Huh? The split-personality "iMobile" apparently tries to bridge the great PC-Mac divide by proudly wearing both Windows and Apple logos on its keypad -- something we can't picture happening on a legitimate Apple product in our lifetimes or those of our offspring. No bother, though; it really does look like a decent phone in its own right. If only it hadn't tried to go all "think different" on us, we wouldn't have felt the need file it in the same dubious category as this winner.

[Peter @ Mar 22nd 2009 4:39PM]

i notice it has a nokia diamond menu thing, itunes, WinMO, and the iphone os built in

[jpxdude @ Jan 5th 2007 7:19PM]

Thats actually pretty good looking...i'd hit that ;)

[Matt @ Jan 5th 2007 7:23PM]

the camera is a sticker

[Norm @ Jan 6th 2007 1:44PM]

I would buy it right NOW if Verizon would carry it!

[Chris @ Jan 5th 2007 7:38PM]

I agree--I've seen MANY iPhone "concepts" and this is really the best. I really hope Apple releases their phone at this year's MacWorld, so these fakes will stop tempting me, and I can get my paws on the real thing.

[xVariable @ Jan 5th 2007 8:02PM]

Boy, with that Windows key AND an Apple key, they sure have all their bases covered, don't they...

The first thing I'd do after taking delivery of this phone is remove the Windows logo.

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Jan 5th 2007 8:18PM]

I'd remove both and sick penguins there. :D

[Woolly Mittens @ Jan 6th 2007 3:34AM]

The first thing people do when they make a mock-up of an Apple product is to stick on a thousand buttons. It's very unlikely to find anything but the barest minimum of buttons on any product with an apple on it.

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Jan 5th 2007 8:12PM]

It would be a nice phone, though it's a little big for my tastes. I'm also not fond of the column of keys that the Windows and Apple logo are in, too far off to the side.

Oh well, definitely one of the better mock phones out there. Except the one with the holographic screen takes the cake. :D

[James Brown @ Jan 5th 2007 8:32PM]

But then you would have to recompile your linux kernel to include the iPhone drivers, install the applications onto the phone via the command line and write bash/perl/python scripts to automate syncing of email data from your mutt mailbox to the phone.

Sounds like too much work for me... it's bad enough that you have to go through 15 installation wizard screens for Windows Mobile/Active Sync installs.

[xVariable @ Jan 5th 2007 8:20PM]

"...apparently tries do bridge the great PC-Mac divide..."

Wuzzat? "Pac Man divide"?

[Das @ Jan 5th 2007 8:26PM]

At Matt, I'm pretty sure all the pics are just renders.

If Apple ever did get around to releasing an iPhone you can sure as hell bet that they wouldn't make the screen any more expansive than their iPods.

[Josh @ Jan 5th 2007 8:29PM]

Unless they were releasing new iPods along with it. ;)

[Das @ Jan 5th 2007 8:59PM]

One can dream... :P

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Jan 5th 2007 8:40PM]

Oh no, Linux would stay off of it. I'd just put penguins there for the hell of it. Everyone loves PENGUINS!!!

[Waylan @ Jan 5th 2007 8:39PM]

maybe a li'l bootcamp mobile action...I mean, it can be done on the iMac...so why not a touch of WinMob 5.0 and whatever mockup OSX mobile has....that would be suhweet.

[Wouter @ Jan 6th 2007 10:08AM]

A. Nice renders. The real world one could have been better if they had just made mock up for the hand to go grab.

B. Just a tought, and quite off topic, but why the hell doesnt make any of the phonemanufacturers a non-shell phone that has a decent keyblock system? I always have problems with my phone being in my pocket either calling people or either switching off.

[Fabrice @ Jan 5th 2007 10:03PM]

That s not a Windows logo. It's a movie logo...

[Aaron @ Jan 5th 2007 10:52PM]

I'm dreading the actual release of an iPhone... more elitist Apple assholes, now harassing you on-the-go for not using their favorite brand of phone. Apple can go to hell, along with their stubborn, zealot fans.

[Intrepid @ Jan 6th 2007 7:23AM]

The problem isn't the zealots, no-one listens to them, it's the swinging buyers - they'll see an advert like this "I'm a Phone, and I'm an iTalk, we can both make calls but iTalk makes you coooool." then the swingers will go "That's me! I'm that smug bastard using the iTalk, I should buy one!"

People complain about monopolies, but they just keep creating them. I don't deny that Microsoft has an OS monopoly, but they keep more companies afloat than Apple would ever consider even helping a little. The fanboys don't realise that without Windows, there would be no competition and their pretty Macs would still run on slow processors at extremely high prices.

Long story short, Apple should start being less monopolistic. The iTalk/iPhone should be purchased only by zealots.

[Bipedal @ Jan 5th 2007 11:05PM]

I call bullshit. These 'photos' all look pretty fishy to me. Especially the one of it in the guy's hand. Photoshopped much?

[Bluephoenix @ Jan 5th 2007 11:17PM]

the perspective on the keys is out, definitely photoshop. however I think that Apple will probably release something a bit more user-friendly in its phone (if one ever appears at all..)the buttons on a nano-sized phone would be impractical to use at best.

The Apple iPhone (not the linksys one) is most definitely the prime piece of Vaporware for 2006

[bobbymelbourne @ Jan 6th 2007 12:34AM]

"The Apple iPhone (not the linksys one) is most definitely the prime piece of Vaporware for 2006"

How can it be vapourware? Apple haven't announced or even suggested that their working on a phone.

[sartinsauce @ Jan 6th 2007 2:14AM]

Touche - Can't be vaporware without being announced or acknowledged.

Still, this is a cool fake, totally post-worthy. I do take offense to the PeeCee notebook in the background...

[A @ Jan 6th 2007 2:56AM]

Pardon my ignorance, but could someone please explain to me how Engadget and the rest are so confident that this is a fake? Not questioning you guys' decision, but I really don't know!

I've seen my fair share of iPhone fakes, but this one is quite convincing.

Thanks!

[GJP303 @ Jan 6th 2007 1:34PM]

the fact that it has a windows key.

[junkie @ Jan 6th 2007 3:04AM]

actually if you got rid of the 4 outside buttons this would be excellent and much more plausible.

[erik @ Jan 6th 2007 4:56AM]

I would not buy iPOD but this make me think about being another MAC customer. This iPhone looks great .... but still fake :-/

[Aaron @ Jan 8th 2007 7:09PM]

Those are some good points. I do hope the iPhone is only purchased by the zealots, but I suspect you're right about the effectiveness of the ads; it's all too easy to imagine some idiot sitting on their couch thinking "I love my iPod, and I use a cellphone... hey, iPhone is perfect!", even if the thing is garbage.

What Apple has done that I truly hate is make products that people love no matter how flawed. It's blind faith, and that drives me crazy. I saw someone on a forum recently saying they just bought a Mac, and it's broken. And they sent a replacement, and THAT one is broken too. But still they hang on to Apple, saying they can do no wrong.

You're absolutely right about them being monopolistic. I still wouldn't buy their products but I would have a great deal more respect for them if they would branch out a little. Things like Bootcamp are a good start, so let's hope that's just the beginning.

...Still though, screw this damn iPhone.

[Imran @ Jan 6th 2007 8:20AM]

Holy cap! It's a windows apple symbian nokia phone, it's got the Symbian Series 60 3rd edition mutilmedia key too, on the right, and the Nokia trademark blue icon on the zero button for accessing the browser!

[v_dogg @ Jan 6th 2007 10:39AM]

looks like they photoshopped a nano. look at the numbers on the pad, thats some nice Gradient overlay action

[dee-dee-deetarded @ Jan 6th 2007 2:06PM]

this is soooooooooo retarded - apple wouldn't even call the s**t 'iMobile', wouldn't make it that huge, partner up with M$, and would probably - just for convenience, use the same dock connector as iPods!

[Filip @ Jan 6th 2007 8:52PM]

Check this :D
http://frontback.ro/upload/iFake.jpg
I hope I've made the last faked Apple phone before it's launch. Can somebody count them all ?